HumminGuru - Presentation & Evaluation

[@bigedhaaheo]

Aloha, Thank you for your review. I just got mine in the mail from FedEx also this pass week. I'll be using mine for the first time this weekend when I'm off of work. Mahalo Ed in Honolulu Hawaii

[@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner]

Good luck - hope you too will be happy for the ‘Guru 😊

[@tonyharrison2542]

Really great review Captain. I purchased an Audio Desk Ultrasonic Record Cleaner, by Glas,s several years ago. I wish the HumminGuru had been available back then. I could have saved myself a considerable sum and purchased more vinyl. Congrats on your latest purchase!

[@thomashensing4093]

Great and thorough review. Could have been nice to 'see it in action' and have the vinyl turn around and be cleaned. But cool and more important that you instead demo'ed the results, with the German Beatles album and its cleaner sound. Another good improvement were that you too looked better in the 2nd part of the review - after the hairdresser visit ;-) The very best thing though being that now I know where to go with my (modest) selection of old quite dirty records...

[@SpyderTracks]

I got one about a week ago, have cleaned about 10 albums and 10 old second hand 7”s, it’s surprised me, I found using the HumminGuru surfactant was a big benefit, but it’s very capable, especially for the price. I’m definitely keeping it.

[@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner]

Congrats - I'm still very satisfied with mine. I've started using a few drops of surfactant (from my dish washer) - my experience so far is that it improves the cleaning and reduces the drying time.

[@SpyderTracks]

@@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner very much my experience as well. It's a brilliant deal for the convenience and price

[@jaycoleman8062]

Using their surfactant makes drying time 5 minutes with zero water left over. Great machine.

[@TripleE76]

Good 1 m8, get mine soon. Cheers from USA.

[@kceateva]

I love this machine for what it is. Its affordable and drys the records. I make my own solution.

[@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner]

Yes - mine is working perfect still after more than half a year (and + 300 records cleaned). I add a little detergent (normally used for dish washer machines) in the destilled water - it makes the drying go faster/better. What do you use in your solution?

[@kceateva]

@@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner I use a little bit of Ilford Ilfotol which is great and has anti static properties that help. I also add a little of Isopropyl 91% if needed. All in a gallon of distilled water.

[@apollomemories7399]

Hi Captain. Now you have had your machine for a year, how do you find the cleaning of 7" singles? The reason I ask is because on the David Denyer site, he claims the HG only cleans half the 7" record and misses the outer-half section. I'd be interested to learn of your findings.

[@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner]

Hi - thanks for watching and asking. I don't do much in 7"/singles 🙃 but have just cleaned one to give you an answer (I have also watched David Denyer's - very long - video). My findings are: If you fill the water tank to the 7" mark (which is filling it to its absolute max.) the HG cleans the 7"/singles on the entire surface except for the 4-6 mm closest to the label. On my 7"/singles there is no recorded music in this area (the 5 mm closest to the label). So DD's assertion that it cleans only half the record doesn't hold up - but you'll have to fill the tank to the max. and be prepared to refill it frequently. Also, I add a few drops of detergent ("rinse aid"/"drying aid" - also used in a dishwasher) - it helps the water get to the record/grooves and it dries faster. Now that we're at it - 2 more things: DD's suggestion to add water to the US-container (not the tank) I will NOT recommend - at the 7" mark the tank is already full. and It's perfectly fine to let the water stay in the tank for some days, if you only clean one/a few records at a time. You don't have to empty and refill unless the water in the tank gets cloudy (and the filter darker from dirt). For me this happens after 10-30 cleanings depending of how dirty the records are. Good luck with your HumminGuru - I'm happy with mine (after approximately 800-1000 cleaned records).

[@apollomemories7399]

@@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner Hi Claus, many thanks for your excellent reply. Obviously with you having cleaned 800+ records, then you know all about it and I'll gladly take your advice. My new unit just arrived yesterday. Hey Ho!

[@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner]

@@apollomemories7399 Congrats - hope you'll be just as satisfied with it. Another small tip. When refilling the US-container (from the tank): After holding the tank and pouring the first 1/4 of the water into the US-container then place it vertically on its short side/end and let the rest of the water run into the container from this position. In this way you don't have to holdt the tank in your hand until it's empty. DD doesn't do this - makes me crazy just to watch it... 😆

[@apollomemories7399]

@@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner Thanks Claus, yes, I did actually think of that refill issue almost immediately thinking "surely I don't have to stand here pouring it in very time?" Regards the operation, what I have noticed is that the machine does not seem to activate correctly with some records and the air bubble reaction is negligible and nothing is happening. I've checked everything, water level correct, record sitting correctly etc, but the machine simply will not operate. It goes through the cleaning cycle followed by drying, so essentially the record gets wet then dried. There's been zero ultrasonic process. I've just cleaned a few now and the machine cleaned one, but not the next, but cleaned the one after. Very strange. Perhaps I have a faulty unit?

[@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner]

@@apollomemories7399 My HG makes a very audible (and annoying) high frequency noise when I use it. I've found that this noise coincidences with the machine working properly. If however I by accident get the record mis-placed (so it doesn't sit/rotate correctly because it is not in place with the "rollers"/wheels in the container) the noise is not the same - and the cleaning is almost non-existing. Also, I've had a few (3-4 out of several hundreds) records that must have been just a little bit smaller/to small - these the HG did not rotate (and therefore not clean properly). I had to push them to one of the sides by hand to get them to rotate. These are the only malfunctions, I've experienced. If this doesn't "allign" with your experiences or troubles, there might be some sort of defect with the HG. I hope not - but maybe you can contact the HG team. BTW: Adding a surfactant (the thing from the dish-washer - just 5-6 drops/tankfull) made a BIG difference. Without it some records didn't seem to "receive" the water - it just kind of bounced off the record. I guess you have added surfactant already? If not, this would be the first thing to try. Good luck!

[@SublimMedia]

I’m about to order one. What was the final cost. I’m afraid the Swedish toll will have a run for money too. Also, how long did it take to arrive?

[@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner]

I ordered JAN 26.th and it arrived FEB 14.th. The HG + extras + shipping was HKD 4.662,- To that comes Import VAT - in DK 25 % (of HKD 4.662,-). Probably about the same VAT-% in Sweeden?. And a VAT-handeling fee to FedEx which was close to DKK 200,-. Good luck Tobias - as I said: I'm satisfied so far.

[@myles7522]

Thanks for showing your latest purchase. I’m happy with my spin clean manual machine and as for the humming guru, I cannot justify buying it at the price it is…..

[@lokitio]

Nice review Phoenix. You say you are pleased with its performance relative to the knosti - have you done any kind of A/B comparison or would you hazard to quantify the improvement it offers?

[@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner]

Thanks Loki - I will try to answer: I have not yet made a direct A/B comparison with 2 equally dirty records in the Knosti and the 'Guru.But I see a trend towards Knosti (with cleaning liquid with isopropanol + dish detergent) is a little better for fingerprints, grease marks etc., but can leave a "veil" or a film on the record. (For massive grease stains, I use pure isopropanol on a cloth directly on the stain). The 'Guru seems to deliver a smoother and better overall cleaning of the record, where evenly distributed dirt is removed better (as heard on the sound sample). The 'Guru is also good at removing the "veil" that the Knosti can leave - and it's drying function is very convenient and efficient (5-10 min where it takes 2-3 hours to drip dry in the Knosti stand) . Conclusion (so far): I will process new/almost clean records in the 'Guru alone. 2nd hand/very dirty records are first cleaned with a brush, then with Knosti and finally with the 'Guru. I hope the information is useful to you.

[@lokitio]

@@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner Thanks and yes its useful. I think the logic you've outlined is why some people like Paul Rigby (on his audiophileman site and channel) suggest adding both some surfactant and isopropyl alcohol to the mix in an ultrasonic - ultrasonics aren't as good with grease as a brush, but the alcohol should solve most of that. I've found the knosti brushes can leave a line wherever you stop if you're not careful. Otherwise it's an excellent solution. The veil issue can be addressed with a second cleaning in a bath of pure distilled water. I imagine though that, factoring in all of the above, the ultrasonic should be superior. Personally, i tend not to buy below NM- records so I'm hoping ultrasonic with the right water/iso/surfactant mix (and also a second distilled water run) will be enough for me to retire the knosti to storage for all but the most dire of cleaning situations. Thanks again and I look forward to your longer-term update.